FRISCO – Brian Schottenheimer is the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys with Monday announced plans to “change the culture” and “win championships.”

To accomplish any of that, he’s going to need to add qualified top assistants.

The Cowboys – after deciding to walk down the hall and hire Schottenheimer, the offensive coordinator for the previous two seasons – are now in the process of doing just that. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was here at The Star on Monday.

The plan is to hire the former Dallas staffer who this past year was dismissed as the Chicago Bears head coach.

Meanwhile, on Monday the team worked to finalize the hiring of Nick Sorensen as their special-teams coordinator, as the former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator has a special-teams background as well.

And there are rumors that “Schotty” – who will call his own plays but who will also need an offensive coordinator to serve under him, just as he did with Dallas predecessor Mike McCarthy – is zeroing in on Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams for the job here.

For some, the Schottenheimer hire is seen as a “safe” one, or even an “uninspiring” one. That is certainly one criticism aimed at owner Jerry Jones.

At the same time, a poor 2024 season left fans wanting change. Well, you’re getting it, to an extent. Schottenheimer, at 51 a first-time head coach, made vows during his Monday press conference about alterations in the way the Dak Prescott-led Cowboys will play on offense (“more tempo”).

But how to work on defense and on special teams? Brian has the keys to the franchise. … but as was the case previously, with Dan Quinn and then Mike Zimmer under McCarthy, the defensive coordinator in particular will largely run his own side of the ball.

And in the end? Maybe the “risk” of Schotty it mitigated by the known quantities represented by his top hires.

“To those fans who have been with us, this decision to bring Schotty in is risky,” owner Jerry Jones said. “It’s not a Hail Mary at all in any way, but it’s founded over some very unique sets of circumstances. I know how much our fans are into the Dallas Cowboys and for me, we’re interested, they’re interested, I’m interested in get into those playoffs and win it.

This is the best way that we can go to the playoffs and win.”